The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-11-10

o"p surely tne match Is even" That
speech gave them the victory. Be not, my
hearer dismayed at any time by what seems
an Immense odds against you. Is fortune, is
want OF education, are men, are devils
against youi Though the multitudes Of earth
ani hell confront you, stand up to the
charge, With l,00l000 against you the
match is just even, Nay, you have decided
advantage. II God DO for us, who can bs
against usl Thus protected, you need not
spend much time in answering your assail.
ants
Many years ago word came to me that two
impost>rS, as temperance lecturers, had been
speaking IN Ohio in various places and Civ.
ing their experience, and they told their
audience that they had long been intimate
with me and had become drunkards by dining
at my table, where | always had liquors OF
all sorts, Indignant to the last degree |
went down to Patrick Campbell, chief of
BROOKLYN police, saving | was going to start
that NIGHT to Ohio to have these viii
lians arrested and / wanted him TO
tell me how to make the arrest. He smiled
and said: "Do not waste your time by chas-
ing these men, Go home and do your work,
and they can do you no harm" | took his
counse! and all was well. Long ago made
up my mind that if one will put his trust in
God and be faithful to duty he need not fear
any evil. Have God on your side young
man, and all the combined forces Of earth
ana nell can do no damage.
And this leads mo to say that the mightiest
OF all defense for young man is the possess
sion OF thorough religious principle. Nothing
can take the place Of it, He may have man
ners that would put to shame the graceful
ness and courtesy OF Lord Chesterfield For
eign languages may drop from his tongue.
He may be able to discuss literatures and
laws and foreign customs. He may WELD o
pen OF unequaled polish and power. His quick
for hi,,x fn ,,,l,-
est salary OF the counting house. He may be
as sharp as Herod and as strong as Samson,
with as fine locks as those which hung Absa-
lom, still he is not safe from contamina-
ton. The more e.egant his manner and the
more fascinating his dress, the more peril.
Satan does not care much for the allegiance
OF coward and illiterate being. He cannot
bring him into efficient service. Bnt he loves
TO storm that castle of character which has
in it the most spoils and treasures. 1t was
not some crazy craft creeping along the coast
with valueless cargo that the pirate at
tackled, but the ship, full winged and tagged,
ply ny between great ports, carrying its
million OF specie. The more your natural
and acquired accomplishments, the more
neei OF the religion OF Jesus. That doe, not
cut in upon or hack up any smoothness of
it arrests that in the soul which ought to be
arrested, and propels that which ought
to be propelled. 1t fills up tho gulleys 1t
elevates and transforms. When the Holy
Spirit impresses the image of God on the
heart he does not spoil the canvas. If in all
the multitudes of young men upon whom re-
ligion has acted YOU could find one nature
that had been the least damaged, would
YELL this proposition, You may now have
enough strength OF character to repel the
various temptations to gross wickedneSs
which assail you, but l do not know in
what strait you may be thrust at some
future time. Moth ng short of the grace of
from the lions. You are not meeker than
Moses, nor holier than David, nor more pa
tent than Job, and you ought not to consider
yourself invulnerab.e. You may have some
weak point OF character that you have never
discovered, and in some hour when you
are assaulted the Philistines will be
upon thee, Samson. Trust not in your
good habits, or your early training, or
your pride OF character; nothing short
OF the arm of Almighty God will BE- sufficient
10 uphold you. You look forward to the
world sometimes with chilling dependency.
Cheer up! l will tell you how you all may
make a fortune. Seek first the kingdom Of
God and his righteousness and all other things
will be added unto you" l know you do not
the freshness OF your life. You will not have
the heart to drink down the Drumming cup of
life and then pour the dreg's on Gods
altar. To a Saviour SO infinitely generous
you have not the heart to act like
that. That is not brave, that is not
honorable, that is not manly. Your greatest
want in all the world is new heart. In Gods
name l tell you that. And the Blessed Spirit
presses through the solemnities and privi-
leges of this holy hour. fut the cup Of life
etei nal to your thirsty lips. Thrust it not
back. Mercy offers it, bleeding mercy, long
suffering mercy. Reject all other friend
ships; be upgrateful for all other kindness
prove recreant to all other bargains, but
despise God s love for your immortal soul
don't you do that
| would like to see some OF you this hour
pres out of the ranks of the world and lay
your conquered spirit at the feet of Jesus
This hour is no wandering vagabond stagger
ing over the earth; it is a winged messenger
of the skies whispering mercy to thy soul.
Life is smooth now, but after while it may
be rough. wild and precipitate. There comes
crisis in the history of every man. We
seldom understand that turning point until
it is far past. The road of life is forked and
read on two signboards: This is the way
to happiness, This is the way to ruin"
How apt are we to pass the forks of the road
without thinking whether it comes out at the
door of bliss or the gates of darkness
Many years ago | stood on the anniversary
pidulofIn WIFI Din .SteF OF CnflSG VINO made
this remarkable statement;
Thirty years ago two young men started
out in the evening to attend the Park Theatre
New York. where play was to be acted in
which the cause of religion was to be placed
in ridiculous and hypocrit;cal light. They
came to the steps. The consciences of both
smote them. One started to go home, but
returne,- again to the door, AMI yet had
not COURAGE to en- er, and finally de-
parted. But the other young man entered
the pit Of the theatre. 1t was tae turning
point in the history of those two young men,
The man who entered was caught in the
whirl of temptation. He sank deeper and
Ce2par in jnfamy. He was lest Tie other
Young man was saved, and lie now stands
before you to bless God that for twenty years
he has been rermtted to preat h he Gospel
"Ro;o ice, young man, in thy youth, and
let thy heard cheer thee in the days OF thy
youth, but know thou that for all these
things God viii bring thee into Judgment"
OVER THE DRAW.